SEATTLE, Washington >> Amazon duped tens of millions of Prime customers by signing them up without consent and locking them in with overly complex cancellation methods, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission will seek to show at a trial starting in Seattle today.

The civil case against the online retail giant and three of its executives is a key test of the FTC’s tough-on-tech stance and could force Amazon to pay damages worth hundreds of millions of dollars, plus fines of up to $53,000 per violation. It could also damage the image of a company that describes itself as obsessed with making customers’ lives easier.

Amazon has denied wrongdoing by the company or its executives, saying Prime’s terms are clearly disclosed and there are several ways to cancel.

The case is part of a bipartisan cra

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